seafood

Celebrity makeup artist and entrepreneur Patrick Ta admits that he is constantly falling in and out of love with Los Angeles — the place he’s called home for the last 13 years.

“[But] right now, I’m obsessed with Los Angeles,” says the San Diego native. “I feel like I am experiencing new friendship groups. For me, what makes a place magical are the people that you surround yourself with, and this entire beginning of almost summer has been the best networking and relationship building that I’ve ever had in Los Angeles. I feel like L.A. is exciting me again.”

In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.

While Ta has lived in Southern California for most of his life, he got his start in the makeup industry in Arizona. After convincing his parents to help him open a tanning and nail salon (which he eventually had to file bankruptcy for), his roommate helped him get a job at MAC, where he honed his skills and became a freelance makeup artist. He eventually relocated to L.A., and with the help of social media — where he posted his work — his career took off, and celebrities like Shay Mitchell, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Gigi Hadid and Camila Cabello began seeking him out to do their makeup. In 2019, he launched his eponymous beauty brand, which is known for its glowy products.

As a first generation Vietnamese American, Ta spent his Sundays at one of his mom’s nail salons in San Diego.

“Weekends were their busiest [day], so we didn’t have the weekends off to just chill, but after work I remember going to Red Lobster,” says Ta. “That was such a big treat for me and my [older] sister because seafood was so expensive, and my mom would make us share. But if we were good with her at work, she would treat us to eating out.”

These days whenever he’s not traveling, Ta tries to reserve his Sundays for spending time with friends. On the agenda is hitting up his favorite flea market, enjoying a seafood brunch at Catch and sober bar hopping in West Hollywood.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

8 a.m.: Morning workout

I wake up anywhere from 8 to 9 a.m. I have a home gym, so I’ll usually work out with my friend. He will come over and we’ll do our own circuit. I’m trying to be better and more consistent with it. Then we will either go and get a green juice from Whole Foods because it’s walking distance from my house, and we always go for a little sprint.

12 p.m.: Stop by the flea market

I will go home afterward to chill for a little bit, and then I’ll see what my friends are doing so I can start planning my day. I love going to the Grove and the Melrose flea market, especially if a friend is in town. There’s a perfume stand there that I always buy a mango sticky rice perfume [from], and it also comes in a candle. I also love wearing hats, so I like seeing what hats they have. I like the Melrose flea market because I always run into people I know, too. I also love H. Lorenzo. I always shop at the shop on Sunset Boulevard.

3 p.m.: Seafood for brunch

It’s so cheesy, but I love Catch. I love sushi. I love seafood, and it’s nice because it’s on a rooftop. I love a sugar-free Red Bull. My favorite dishes are the truffle sashimi, the mushroom pasta with shrimp added and their baked crab hand rolls.

4 p.m.: Sober bar hopping in West Hollywood

Sometimes I want to go to West Hollywood to see my gay friends and be out and about and bar hop. What’s so great about West Hollywood is you can walk around and see where everyone is. I don’t go to a specific bar, because I actually don’t drink. It’s more of a thing to do with my friends.

7 p.m.: Netflix and steak

I’ll finish off my day or any sort of socializing around 7 p.m., then I’ll go home and make myself some food. I have been obsessed with just eating a steak with avocado and A.1. Sauce, and watching whatever TV shows I like on Hulu or Netflix. Right now, I’m obsessed with the show “Sirens” [on Netflix].

10 p.m.: Do my rigorous skincare routine

I am super crazy about my skincare, and on Sundays I really try to condition my hair, my scalp, and I will always do a face mask. Then I’ll do my skincare routine. I love exfoliating my body. I have this silicone exfoliant pad that I will use to fully exfoliate my body. I’ll call it a night usually by 11 p.m. I always go into the office on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I don’t really like to stay up that late on Sunday.

Tokyo and Beijing are closing in on a deal to allow Japanese seafood exports to resume following 2023 ban.

China and Japan are closing in on a deal that would see the return of Japanese seafood imports to the Chinese market following a nearly two-year trade ban.

Tokyo said on Friday that the two sides are finalising details following a successful meeting in Beijing this week.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that officials had “reached an agreement on the technical requirements necessary to resume exports of fishery products to China”.

“Exports to China will resume as soon as the re-registration process for export-related facilities is completed,” Hayashi said, hailing the pending deal as a “milestone.”

China banned Japanese seafood imports in August 2023 after Japan released more than 1 million metric tonnes of treated radioactive wastewater from the former Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The power plant was destroyed during Japan’s infamous 2011 earthquake and tsunami, when three of its six nuclear reactors collapsed.

While the safety of the wastewater release was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the move was controversial with neighbours like China.

China’s General Administration of Customs said on Friday that exports will resume once the “necessary procedures” are completed after “substantial progress” was made during negotiations.

The deal lays out several new procedures for Japan, whose fish processing facilities will be required to register with China.

Exporters will also need to include certificates of inspection guaranteeing that seafood has been checked for radioactive material, according to Japanese officials.

Chinese restrictions will remain on agricultural and marine exports from 10 Japanese prefectures due to concerns dating back to the 2011 accident.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa said Tokyo would continue to push China to lift any remaining restrictions.

The spot is everything you’d want from a fishing village – tiny, charming, and always serving up the catch of the day

Nestled in a picturesque crevice of Wales’ rugged coastline, Little Haven doesn’t strive to impress, but that’s precisely why it does. This quaint fishing village in Pembrokeshire exudes a certain charm with its delightful pubs, authentic seafood sandwiches, and a charming cove that ebbs and flows with the tide.

During the warmer months, locals and tourists alike flock to the slipway with ice creams and pints, creating a relaxed atmosphere. But there’s more to Little Haven than seafood sandwiches and seaside pints. The village has a deep-rooted lifeboat heritage.

READ MORE: UK’s ‘most beautiful’ beach unveils brutal £15 charge as locals threaten action

In 1882, the RNLI established a base beneath Goldtrop Head, launching lifeboats directly from the water.

This changed in 1903 when proper facilities were finally constructed. The station shut down in the ’20s, but by 1967, lifeboats returned, this time darting out from the newly christened Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station, reports Wales Online.

In addition to its maritime history, Little Haven is situated along Pembrokeshire’s enchanting coastline and serves as an idyllic location for a refreshing swim or coastal walk.

Little Haven’s beach may be small, but it boasts layers of rock pools, soft sand and a changing shoreline that unveils routes to adjacent coves at low tide. It forms part of a stretch of coastline designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its intriguing geology and marine life.

The surrounding cliffs and rock formations enhance the picturesque beauty, offering ideal spots for picnics, sunbathing, and coastal strolls. The beach also provides excellent conditions for water sports, including kayaking, paddle boarding, and surfing.

It’s also increasingly become a favourite spot for wild swimming, though you should always be careful and follow Adventure Smart guidance when taking a dip.

For walkers, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path cuts straight through the heart of Little Haven, so if you’ve packed your boots and your waterproofs, you’re in the right place.

Jump on the trail and stride in either direction to enjoy secluded coves, sandy bays and you might even spot a seal if you’re lucky. Head north for a hike to Broad Haven or Nolton Haven, or swing south past The Swan Inn to reach The Point, a cracking clifftop lookout.

Little Haven has also emerged as a small foodie hotspot, thanks to a popular seafood deli and a seaside pub serving home-cooked food.

Seafood in Little Haven and the wider Pembrokeshire area is a culinary highlight, with its coastal offerings reflecting the village’s rich maritime heritage. Pembrokeshire has a growing reputation for fresh produce and coastal cuisine supplied by an emerging wave of independent producers and dining establishments.

Lobster and MôR have become a popular feature in Little Haven, attracting people from miles around to enjoy a fresh roll smothered with Welsh seaweed butter and filled with succulent crab meat or lobster meat. Freshly caught, whole lobster can also be bought alongside Caws Cenarth cheese, ice cream and their locally distilled Tir and Môr gin.

A trip to this deli is a must when visiting Little Haven. Here, local produce merges effortlessly with nautical gifts, picnic essentials and delicious deli items.

If you’re not in the mood for a lobster roll, other sandwich options like smoked salmon and cream cheese are also on offer and go perfectly with their takeaway coffee or, if you’re feeling indulgent, a bottle of their seaweed and spice gin.

For those looking for a pint with a view, there are several pubs in and around Little Haven that serve a range of home-cooked dishes and seafood specials.

The Swan Inn, a 200-year-old pub with a waterside location, focuses on local diver-caught scallops and St Brides Bay crab.

St Brides is another popular pub in the centre of the village, serving Welsh and local Pembrokeshire ales.

This family-run establishment is full of charm and even has a unique secret – behind a door in the bar is one of Little Haven’s original freshwater wells. Opposite the pub, there’s a sun-soaked beer garden perfect for lazy lunches and relaxed weekend sessions.

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